Sandhill Cranes at Whitewater Draw — Framed Art by kenne
Each morning, we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.
— Buddha
Archive for the ‘Sandhill Cranes’ Tag
Sandhill Cranes — Framed Art 1 comment
Whitewater Draw, February 5, 2024 Leave a comment
Sandhill Cranes at Whitewater Draw — Image by kenne
Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes at Whitewater Draw in Southeast Arizona — Video by kenne
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Sandhill Cranes 1 comment
Sandhill Cranes (Whitewater Draw) — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Moving elegantly they
stand in shallow water
of the whitewater draw.
Their loud, trumpeting call
creating a cacophony of sound
inspiring to nearby birders.
These crimson-capped birds
with their dignified manner
appear in a stately procession.
— kenne
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Sandhill Cranes 6 comments
Sandhill Cranes Over Whitewater Draw — Image by kenne
After leaving at sunrise
to feed in the nearby fields
hundreds of cranes return
at mid-day, squawking in a
cacophony heard miles around.
It’s sunny with a few passing
clouds drifting overhead
in the distance
mountains rise above
the farm and ranch lands.
These big birds prefer
the shallow waters of the draw
where they stand protected
from predators who prefer
to stay out of the water.
Geese, ducks and other
waterfowl can be found
wintering here in southeast
Arizona attracting birders
with scopes and cameras.
I don’t see myself as a birder,
birders are strange
counting and taking notes
to be placed on eBird,
me, I just take photos.
Occasionally we make small talk
going through our social necessities
thinking about it or not thinking about it
walking freely on by not holding to the
moment so as not to remember.
— kenne
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Returning To Whitewater Draw Leave a comment
Sandhill Cranes at Whitewater Draw in Southeast Arizona — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Returning to Whitewater Draw
It’s fun to watch
the amazing spectacle
of large elegant birds
returning
from the feeding fields
standing
in the shallow waters
giving out loud,
rattling bugle calls
echoing
sounds across the valley.
It’s always the same,
birders with binoculars and cameras,
strapped on their shoulders
and cranes standing
in the shallow waters
of Whitewater Draw.
— kenne
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Coming In For A Landing Leave a comment
Two Sandhill Cranes Coming In For A Landing At Whitewater Draw — Image by kenne
here for the winter
spend time before heading north
to begin again
— kenne
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The Sandhill Cranes Have Headed North 2 comments
The Sandhill Cranes Have Headed North — Images by kenne
Cranes flying north
To their northern breeding grounds
White-winged doves return.
— kenne
White-winged Dove — Image by kenne
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Spread Your Wings 1 comment
Sandhill Cranes at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area — Image by kenne
Spread Your Wings for me
Creating a movement rhythm
In the mid-day sun.
— kenne
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Sandhill Cranes Flying Into the Draw Leave a comment
Sandhill Cranes Flying Into Whitewater Draw in Southeast Arizona — Images by kenne
(The blurred dots are cranes in the distance.)
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Getting Frisky Leave a comment
“Getting Frisky” (January 20, 2022) — Image by kenne
Sandhill Cranes playing around at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area In Southern Arizona.
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Flight 1 comment
“Flight” (Sandhill Cranes at Whitewater Draw) — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Flying Inside Your Own Body
Your lungs fill & spread themselves,
wings of pink blood, and your bones
empty themselves and become hollow.
When you breathe in you’ll lift like a balloon
and your heart is light too & huge,
beating with pure joy, pure helium.
The sun’s white winds blow through you,
there’s nothing above you,
you see the earth now as an oval jewel,
radiant & seablue with love.
It’s only in dreams you can do this.
Waking, your heart is a shaken fist,
a fine dust clogs the air you breathe in;
the sun’s a hot copper weight pressing straight
down on the think pink rind of your skull.
It’s always the moment just before gunshot.
You try & try to rise but you cannot.
wings of pink blood, and your bones
empty themselves and become hollow.
When you breathe in you’ll lift like a balloon
and your heart is light too & huge,
beating with pure joy, pure helium.
The sun’s white winds blow through you,
there’s nothing above you,
you see the earth now as an oval jewel,
radiant & seablue with love.
It’s only in dreams you can do this.
Waking, your heart is a shaken fist,
a fine dust clogs the air you breathe in;
the sun’s a hot copper weight pressing straight
down on the think pink rind of your skull.
It’s always the moment just before gunshot.
You try & try to rise but you cannot.
— Margaret Atwood
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Sandhill Cranes 2 comments
Sandhill Cranes at Whitewater Drew (McNeal, Arizona) — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Every man is his own Pygmalion,
and spends his life fashioning himself.
And in fashioning himself, for good or ill,
he fashions the human race and its future.
–I. F. Stone
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Sandhill Cranes At Whitewater Drew 1 comment
Sandhill Cranes At Whitewater Drew In Southeast Arizona — Images by kenne
(Click On An Image To See In A Slideshow Format)
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Sandhill Cranes Landing At Whitewater Draw Leave a comment
Sandhill Cranes Landing At Whitewater Draw — Image by kenne
Gliding into land
Neck and legs sticking way out
What natural grace.
— kenne
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Sandhill Cranes at Whitewater Draw Leave a comment
Sandhill Cranes at Whitewater Draw — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Sandhill Cranes wintering in southeast Arizona and northern Sonora many have migrated from their nesting area in Siberia.
Whitewater Draw is an Arizona Game and Fish Wildlife Area is of state and regional significance as the primary wintering area for Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) in Arizona and includes both the Lesser (most numerous) and Greater subspecies. Located in the southern Sulphur Springs Valley, cranes are coming from both the Rocky Mountain population and Mid-Continental population. The area also supports wintering Snow Geese (80-200) and a few Ross?s Geese (occasional to 40). Counts of Sandhill Cranes in early January have steadily climbed from 4,000 in 1991 to over 22,000 in 2008 at Whitewater Draw, with another 13,000 present 36 miles north in the Willcox Playa area, and another 600 present in the far north of Sulphur Springs Valley at Bonita, AZ, and 400 present in the Safford Valley near Duncan. The Greater subspecies breeds in the northern states of the continental U.S., and the Lesser subspecies, breeds from Alaska and eastern Siberia. (Source: Audubon.org)
Every year the town of Wilcox hosts Wings Over Wilcox — Birding and Nature Festival (January 17-20, 2019). Birds have been arriving for weeks now — the birds have their own schedule.
— kenne
